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On pension abuse, Chris Christie has lost all moral authority: Letter

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As a councilman, mayor and Morris County freeholder, Gene Feyl's public salary averaged around $30,000 a year, until Gov. Chris Christie steered him into the executive director's job at the state Highlands Council. There, he made $116,000 a year and padded his state pension by tens of thousands per year.
(Star-Ledger file photo)

So this is the governor whose claim to fame was vowing to end New Jersey’s pension abuses. Given Highland Council Executive Director Gene Feyl’s retirement after only two years on the job, ("Christie pads a pal’s pension," editorial, March 27), Christie has lost all moral authority to demand more of public workers, in terms of added contributions and reduced benefits, beyond those already imposed.

Any other 30-year local elected official with a $30,000 annual salary would enjoy an annual pension in the neighborhood of $16,000. Thirty years’ service to citizens of Denville and Morris County certainly has a value. But throw in a two-year political appointment at $116,000 annually and, voilá, the number nearly quadruples to $63,000.

Worse yet, Feyl likely contributed about $72,000 over that 30-year period, based on the first 25-plus at lower salaries. Given his new pension boost, he’ll surpass his contributions to the pension system in about 16 months. For the rest of his time, he’ll be laughing all the way to the bank on our tax dollars.
Gary Lewis, Montville